Ontario’s Rachel Homan wins 2013 Scotties final

Rachel Homan won her first Canadian women’s curling championship on Sunday night, defeating Jennifer Jones of Manitoba 9-6 in the final of the 2013 Scotties Tournament of Hearts at the K-Rock Centre in Kingston. It was the first Scotties title for Homan and her team of Emma Miskew, Alison Kreviazuk and Lisa Weagle who play out of the Ottawa Curling Club. Team Ontario dominated the play throughout the game, making the big shots when required, peeling and ticking guards, and waiting patiently for opportunities to score. “This feeling’s unbelievable,” said Homan. “Our first win at the Scotties, and just unbelievable that my team could do it at such a young age. I’m just so proud of my team.” An emotional Homan said she had a lot of family and friends among the huge pro-Ontario crowd, and that made this win especially sweet. “My grandfather passed away a few years ago after our first Scotties, and I wish he could be here,” she said. “I know he was here with us tonight, and I’m happy that everybody else could be here and be able to share this with us tonight.” Ontario lead Lisa Weagle, who was involved in a strange burned rock incident in the fifth end when her broom got caught between two rocks, was named the winner of the Sandra Schmirler Most Valuable Player Award after the game. “I’m so proud of her,” she said. “So happy for her. I gave her a big hug. We’re changing curling a bit, and she’s an unbelievable player. We’re lucky to have her on our team. Jones and her St. Vital Curling Club team of Kaitlyn Lawes, Jill Officer and Dawn Askin were trying to win their fifth Canadian women’s championship. “I’m pretty disappointed,” said Jones. “We would have liked to have made a few more shots.” “But they played great,” she said. “They played lights out and they deserved to win today. “That’s what sports is all about,” Jones said, when asked about the roller coaster of emotions during the game. “You want it to be that way and I wish it had been closer coming home, but it’s a fantastic environment to play in, and we feel pretty privileged to play in the final, and if we make a couple more shots you never know what can happen. But they played great today. They outplayed us and they deserved to win.” Team Manitoba completed the round robin undefeated, but lost to Ontario in the Page playoff 1 vs 2 game. Jones defeated Heather Nedohin’s Team Canada 8-5 in the semifinal on Sunday morning to earn the rematch against Homan in the final. Homan will now wear Team Canada colours at the World Women’s Curling Championships taking place March 16 to 24 in Riga, Latvia. httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCT6M_ikAgc